Dobson: “He Doesn’t Speak for all the Christians in America… I Do”
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Thu, March 15, 2007
- Viewed 186
- (53) comments so far
This is curious for a number of reasons, not least of which is that Dobson is not a member of NAE.
SOURCE: The Dallas News Religion Blog
Is it just me, or are there too many people trying to speak for me (as a Christian) these days? And it seems that none of them can agree with each other; but they all want to speak for me.
Whether it’s Rev. Cizik’s environmental stance, Dobson’s insistance that Sponge Bob is pro-gay, or Pat Robertson’s public revelation that there will be a ‘mass killing’ in 2007, I’m really tired of having any of these men speak for me.
For one, I didn’t ask them to speak for me; and two: I can make myself look foolish (thank you very much).
So… Richard, James, Pat (and others)… isn’t it possible to run the ministries and do the jobs that God has called you to do without calling a press conference every other day to speak for me?
Or, at least, next time, give me a call before you tell everyone what I think. That seems like only the “Christian” thing to do.
**End Rant**
(And please don’t criticize my criticization) (is that a word?). I don’t hold anything against anyone in this post… they are all fine men… I just wish they’d stop trying to speak for all of us. Well, at least for me (I don’t want to speak for you)! 
Todd
This from the Dallas News Religion Blog: The Rev. Richard Cizik, vice president of the National Association of Evangelicals, happens to believe that global warming is bad. This makes him unacceptable as a Christian leader, in the mind of James Dobson. In a March 1 letter to L. Roy Taylor, chairman of the NAE board, Dobson and others wrote that Cizik's environmental activism is “demoralizing.” “If he cannot be trusted to articulate the views of American evangelicals on environmental issues, then we respectfully suggest that he be encouraged to resign his position with the NAE,” the letter said...
Comments
if you want a Globally Recognized Avatar (the images next to your profile) get them here. Once you sign up, they will displayed on any website that supports them.
steve on Thu, March 15, 2007
Y’all need to ease up on Dr. Dobson a bit. Whether we like it or not, there are men and women that have influence and, frankly, he’s used his pretty positively for a long time. He loves God and seems to be an honest man that loves people. If we’re to have a spokesman at all, we could do a LOT worse.
Peter Hamm on Thu, March 15, 2007
Steve,
I disagree. Yes he’s used his influence, I’m not sure that in the past few years it’s been used positively, though. I don’t hear the Gospel of Jesus from his mouth/pen. I hear a gospel of lesgislative reform and an agenda that is all about the things that he is against. Sure, it’s possible we could “do worse”, but imho, not by much…
steve on Thu, March 15, 2007
Then argue for your position. That’s fine. But Dobson is a conservative and a Christian. Just because the secular media can’t distinguish between the two doesn’t mean we should do the same. I think it’s fair to criticise his politics if you like, but he deserves respect and honor for his positive and blatantly Christian influence on individual lives and our society. Who on the national stage has been a better voice? And that’s not a rhetorical question,,,,
Pastor Al on Thu, March 15, 2007
Steve,
I am not suggesting that Dobson isn’t a good man, nor one who doesn’t believe in his cause, and yes if he ran for office I might just vote for him. But I am saying that when it comes to some of his ideas about homosexuality and raising kids, man he can be pretty far off. Honestly when I hear certain “spokesmen” drag out the whole “The Gays are taking the world over” banner I think, “Looks like ‘someone’ needs some money.” Is that wrong? http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/grin.gif
Al
Peter Hamm on Thu, March 15, 2007
But he’s SO out of line here. He’s claiming to speak for me, and even more to the point, he is trying to sway and change the direction of an Association of which he is NOT EVEN A MEMBER!
No, I wouldn’t vote for him, either…
Yeah, Al, I think it is about raising money for lobbying efforts sometimes…
DanielR (a different Daniel) on Thu, March 15, 2007
I agree with Peter. We could do worse, maybe Pat Robertson or Billy James Hargis, but not much worse.
Ever since Dobson and Focus on the Family proclaimed that the video on tolerance of multiculturalism starring Sponge Bob, et al. was “an insidious means by which the organization is manipulating and potentially brainwashing kids”, and that it promotes homosexuality, he’s been pretty much useless as a spokesman, in my opinion. It seems like every time he says something, I hear someone comment “Isn’t he the one who said Sponge Bob and the other children’s cartoon characters were gay and promoting homosexuality? What an idiot.” He’s lost any credibility, once people hear your name and associate it with something laughable like the Sponge Bob thing you could be proclaiming Jesus is our savior and all most people are going to be thinking is “That’s the Sponge Bob guy, what an idiot.”
And I agree that it’s about the money. When they need money some politicians trot out the politics of fear; fear of terrorists blowing up your house, fear of crime, gangs and drugs, fear of anything they can think of to get you to give them money. When I hear Dobson start talking about the gay agenda and gays taking over the world I think, yep, he’s fund raising again. Don’t most studies show that gays are about 3 to 4 percent of the population? I’d say they have along way to go before they take over, but they sure do occupy a lot of Dobson’s time, thought and efforts.
DanielR (a different Daniel) on Thu, March 15, 2007
Steve, it’s not really a question of who on the national stage has been a better voice, it’s has James Dobson been a good voice? A good representative of Jesus Christ? I don’t think so. One problem is that if you are a good spokesman for Christianity (IMO) you don’t make the national stage. The media is only looking for the outrageous, the laughable, the newsworthy, they aren’t going to put a moderate, reasonable Christian on the air. When they want a comment they go to the most reactionary/reconstructionist/dominionist conservative they can find, or the most bleeding heart liberal.
Dobson, Pat Robertson, Fallwell, et al get media play because they’re always good for some outrageous quote, something sure to inflame and excite, just not in a way that is good representation of Jesus Christ. One of our favorites around here, Mark Driscoll, gets the media play when he says something outrageous, just not to the same degree.
I think James Dobson has traded his pulpit for the political stage, traded his conviction for Christ for dedication to the Republican Party, so while he may be a good spokesman for the party, I don’t think he’s a good spokesman for Christianity.
steve on Thu, March 15, 2007
I’d just say having and using influence is a hard job and Dobson has used his, thouh not perfectly, pretty well. Again, who on the national stage has done better?
I’ve got to come clean, though. I confess it’s SO hard to even consider agreeing with Al Gore on ANYTHING http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/smile.gif
Pastor Al on Thu, March 15, 2007
Steve,
I’m with you about the Al Gore thing, big time! How much does he pay a month on utility bills? - was it more then 20 households. Yikes.
Al
Don on Fri, March 16, 2007
Dobson does not speak for me period. I’m tired of the whole “speaking for the Christians” thing. By the way, I thought the road “we” are on is narrow. Too bad “they” would like to control the road and make it wide. Wide with all the wrong junk. I can’t beleive that this being stewards of what God has given us (the earth) is such a big deal. Really, “they” will pontificate about how to be stewards of money, but not God’s creation? “They” as so selective in their hermanuetic. How biased, and how political “they” have become. Screwy
RevJeff on Fri, March 16, 2007
Kudos for TODD -
Only MMI could get so much passion going on a Friday post.
Not in defense of any of the celebrities, but to danielR’s point… One reason we must be active i the “hoomosexual agenda debate” is precisely because they are such a small percentage of the population and yet their “preferential status” (MY WORDS - on my own behalf) directs more of our national time, politidal energy and financial resources that any other subset of society…
i.e. does Travelocity (or any other travel site) have a link for Jewish vacations, black or hispanic travel offers, or even “cruises for athiests.”
The “squeaky minority” has become a POLITICAL crisis in our country… As for BIBLICAL reasoning, yeah - the Bible is against homosexuality…. but that’s not the point of this post…
don on Sat, March 17, 2007
National Association of Evangelicals—This is a problem! Too bad Christianity is now an organization.
“This makes him unacceptable as a Christian leader, in the mind of James Dobson.” This is a huge problem.
No wonder the world scoffs at us.
danny on Sun, March 18, 2007
I think Wendi hit the nail on the head. “Let’s look at the political stands Jesus took”....NONE”. It seems to me that the issues of
importance to Christ were, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” and “I am the living water, drink from me and you will never thirst again”. The POINT to me is “first things first”. We are not called to political agendas, at least not to the point of trading in our “pulpit” for political position. How I wish that believers in the limelight would re-focus their platforms to be “Christ-centered” and start trying with greater effort to simply out-grace the rest of the world instead of attempting to legislate their religious point of view. So, what if a far left liberal gets elected? Has God stopped being God in America? What if the far right guy gets elected. Has God’s plan now been carried out? Is the Father’s desire that we effect change on the gay marriage agenda, or that we introduce a lost world, straight AND gay alike, to His unconditional love and grace?? EVERY side has an opinion and an agenda. Maybe we should stop taking “sides” and share with the world the ONE THING they can’t find on CNN or Fox news!!!!
ChriS on Mon, March 19, 2007
American Christians no longer fit any “Profile” to a T! We are so diverse in our beliefs and how we live not even your Mama could speak for you, let alone your Pastor or National Leader. I think Dobson should use a bit more wisdom at the end of the day Global Warming has little impact upon our Nation’s salvation. Thousands die each day without knowing Christ and we are agruing the merits of Global Warming. I don’t have an opinion on wether Global Warming is fact or the next Political Cash Cow for politicians and scientists who have a vested interest…but I do know we should do all we can to control pollution, because unless Jesus comes back today or tomorrow, my kids and someday grandkids have to live on what I leave them. There are issues that Dobson and others have done well on…this is just one that never should have been brought up.
99% Of all Pastors and Christians have no business on public media…because they usually say something stupid or if they say something truthful yet unpopular the Media Spin is enough that it voids what was said.
Jesus speaks for me and I am learning to follow Him. He had no opinions of His own but only spoke what He heard from the Father.
Tim H on Tue, March 20, 2007
Todd,
My favorite line was: I can make myself look foolish (thank you very much).
I think on that point, you spoke for me as well. ... I actually agreed with you on the other points as well.
My problem for quite some time with Dr. Dobson and others has been his move toward closely associating Christianity with the Republican party. The problem is that once they’re in bed together, it’s hard to be objective about the shortcomings of the Republicans, their leadership, or their agendas. (The same would be true if he were a Democrat.)
The challenge for us as Christians is to keep our ultimate allegiance to Christ, and to not become so bound to any other organization or philosphy that we can’t speak out against its shortcomings.
I’ve ranted more than I intended to. ... Thanks again for the line about not needing more help looking foolish. As one who often defines “foolish” I really appreciated it. http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/grin.gif
Tim
Page 2 of 4 pages < 1 2 3 4 >
Post a Comment